I’m Teri Jory, and I like to work with people to make things happen

I am deeply committed to my community and continuously work towards making this a more just and peaceful world. As a successful businesswoman owning a production company and earning a PhD degree in Political Psychology, Statistics, and Public Policy, I bring an innovative-solutions approach of business acumen with empirical problem-solving techniques toward all my endeavors. These include community work, business, academics, and involvement in the arts. My pragmatic leadership skills are balanced with my empathy and compassion toward those that are underrepresented in our community like survivors of human trafficking. I serve on the District Attorney Human Trafficking Task Force and counsel survivors of sexual assault at Standing Together To End Sexual Assault (Formerly SB Rape Crisis Center). 

In 2015, the editor of The Mesa Paper recruited me to be President of OMNI (Our Mesa Neighborhood Inc.) to provide the collective safety of our community, preserve our environment, and offer fun events bringing people together as a community - subsequently enhancing our Mesa businesses. For me, life is a team effort and therefore my successes are driven by my collaborative skills of taking divergent views and directing them towards a common goal. Among the community projects I have championed are:

·      Mesa Safe – Initially, a door-to-door campaign supported by the Fire Dept educating neighbors to be disaster prepared; and currently my team of volunteers are contributing to the public health of the community by making homemade masks for essential County and City workers, grocery store clerks, those with special needs, and seniors.

·      Cliff Drive Crosswalks and Pedestrian/Bikepath: Successfully advocated for Cliff Drive crosswalks and a pedestrian/bikepath from Hendry’s to Rancheria so our children have safe routes to school, bikers are safer, our neighbors healthier, and our environment cleaner (by getting vehicles miles driven down).

·      Cliff Drive Island Project: Successful partnership with Mesa Architects implementing an environmentally sustainable garden on the concrete island in front of Rose Café for residents to enjoy open space.

·      1000 Steps Beach Access Renovation Project - Instrumental in rallying community support making this project a success.

·      Art Renaissance on the Mesa covering traffic utility boxes with local art. 

·      Community events including Mesa FallFest and our holiday special - Celebrate Lights with live reindeer.

As an advocate for women and families, I couldn’t sit on the sidelines when 10 cases of the Zika virus came to Santa Barbara in 2017. I wanted to procure a seat at the table in decision-making because I thought it was imperative that we work to keep the Zika virus out of Santa Barbara for many reasons, particularly to keep pregnant women and their babies safe. I contacted Former Santa Barbara County Supervisor Janet Wolf who thought I would be an effective leader in this conversation to take the necessary action for the health and safety of our community. She appointed me to the Mosquito and Vector Management District as a County Trustee where I still honorably serve now as a Trustee representing the city.

I am a fierce believer in human rights. One of my strengths is in the service of others, and I believe there’s nothing more courageous than compassion. As a compassionate and dedicated woman, I’m committed to ensure all have the opportunity to attain their true potential – from women’s rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, immigrants’ rights, human trafficking survivors’ rights, sexual assault survivors’ rights, to economic equity, and environmental defense - driven by basic freedoms and humanity, informed by science, Constitutional principles, and the law. My experiences from my time as a businesswoman,  Political Psychologist (PhD), to an award-winning journalist, a mother of twins, and community organizer have prepared me to successfully do my part in making this a just and more peaceful world empowering women and all genders around the globe.